Glasgow Warriors stalwart set for emotional last hurrah as Adam Hastings speculation addressed

It should be an emotional evening for Jack Oliver and Duncan Weir, both named on the bench in a matchday squad featuring 10 changes from the XV that started last weekend’s 1872 Cup victory over Edinburgh.

What will likely be an otherwise inauspicious occasion following the December glamour of Champions Cup and derby encounters will carry extra significance for Oliver and Weir who should make their first and last appearances respectively.

Scrum-half Oliver, the son of former Scotland cap Greig who tragically passed away three years ago in a paragliding accident, was recruited from Munster last summer and will likely get a run-out for starting No.9 Ben Afshar at some point.

“He is obviously one of the young boys that we think has got a bright future ahead and we would like to introduce him now, even if it's just for a little bit of a taste so that he knows now on the training pitch and in his next development phase that he knows what it takes,” confirmed head coach Franco Smith.

“He's got a good kicking game, good distribution. All the reasons that we kept him and want him to grow for Scotland, he's proven in training.”

At the other end of the career scale there will be one last hurrah for Weir, a hugely popular figure at Scotstoun as the only playing member of both the 2015 and 2024 title winning squads.

The 34-year-old is taking on a coaching role in the club’s academy and, barring a late-season injury crisis, will take his final bow against Zebre.

“Obviously we hope that Charlie Savala will, after the Six Nations, be available to play in that role,” added Smith. “Matthew Urwin is also developing nicely to step up but if trouble does come our way then Duncan will still remain fit until the end of the season in case of emergency.

“For now we would like him to focus on what he's going to do next and he's really excited at doing that. But I know tomorrow will also be quite emotional for him because to finish your career is always something that comes with a tear.”

It looks like he won’t be the only Glasgow fly-half moving on. Adam Hastings has been linked with a summer move to Montpellier, something Smith, noticeably, did not deny.

On the back of Tom Jordan leaving for Bristol Bears last summer it would leave Warriors short at No. 10 but Smith chose to see it as a compliment that other clubs are coveting his players.

“I'm not sure (about Hastings going to Montpellier) but I'm not going to deny or admit to anything at the moment,” he added, a smile on his face.

“I’m super proud of the fact that other clubs want our players. It's happened my whole career from Benetton and Cheetahs - it's always 13 or 14 at a time leaving the club when the team starts going well.

“But to have shares in their children's inheritance one day - we're also proud of that. So I'm not sure exactly what the process is and where they are with this whole thing, but for now I would rather comment on that when it's made official by us.”

Glasgow v Zebre teams

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma (United Rugby Championship, Scotstoun Stadium, Saturday, 7.45pm)

Glasgow Warriors: 15. Ollie Smith, 14. Duncan Munn, 13. Stafford McDowall (c), 12. Kerr Yule, 11. Jamie Dobie, 10. Adam Hastings, 9 Ben Afshar; 1 Patrick Schickerling, 2 Seb Stephen, 3 Fin Richardson, 4 Jare Oguntibeju, 5 Max Williamson, 6 Euan Ferrie, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Macenzzie Duncan.

Replacements: 16. Gregor Hiddleston, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Alex Craig, 20. Ally Miller, 21. Jack Oliver, 22. Duncan Weir, 23. Dan Lancaster.

Zebre Parma: 15. Lorenzo Pani, 14. Mirko Belloni, 13. Giulio Bertaccini, 12. Enrico Lucchin, 11. Albert Einstein Batista, 10. Martin Roger Farias, 9. Thomas Dominguez; 1. Paolo Buonfiglio (c), 2. Shilo Klein, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 4. Matteo Canali, 5. Franco Carrera, 6 Guido Volpi, 7. Iacopo Bianchi, 8 Davide Ruggeri.

Replacements: 16. Giovanni Quattrini, 17. Luca Franceschetto, 18. Matteo Nocera, 19. Giacomo Milano, 20. David Odiase, 21. Migael Prinsloo, 22. Giovanni Montemauri, 23. Luca Morisi.